MSC Sao Paulo V fire - update #4

 The Canadian Coast Guard has declared that the fire aboard MSC Sao Paulo V is extinguished. The CCG made the announcement yesterday, March 8, and allowed all emergency resources to stand down. Two firefighting teams from the United States assisted the ship's crew and CCG in containing the fire that broke out on March 3. 

The icebreaker CCGS Amundsen has now returned to its spring ice operations on the Saguenay River and the tug l'Anse du Moulin is heading for its home port of Baie-Comeau. (The tug Grande-Baie came over from Méchins to look after tug ops in Baie-Comeau.) The two MSC ships, MSC Don Giovanni and MSC Celine  which were providing relief and catering to the crew of the MSC Sao Paulo V have also continued on their ways to Montreal and Corner Brook respectively. 

A period of 24 hours was needed to evacuate smoke and clear CO2 before crew could re-occupy the ship without breathing apparatus, so the ship remained at anchor over night.

The tug  Ocean Keith Rusby arrived from Quebec City with a generator which allowed the otherwise powerless ship to raise its anchor. Making up a line astern it then joined Ocean Taiga taking the ship in tow for Quebec City, leaving the Prince Shoal area of Tadoussac this morning, March 9. I can find no reference to whether crew have re-boarded or not.

MSC's published schedule does not show what will become of the MSC Sao Paulo V's cargo which was en route to Sines, Portugal, and Mediterranean ports. Presumably it will have to be unloaded in Montreal as there are only limited facilities in Quebec City and no container cranes. If General Average is declared the cargo may be impounded until cargo interests make their contribution to the GA fund.

It is likely that the ship's stopover in Quebec City will allow for a formal survey of damages and a Transportation and Safety Board of Canada investigation. With a ship this age (it was built in 1998) there will be the question of whether the extent of damage will make repairs prohibitive.

Arriving Halifax July 4, 2022.

Assuming the ship arrives in Quebec City this evening without incident, I don't expect a further update for some time.

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CCGS Amundsen - hope they are isolating

The research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen arrived at the Bedford Institute last evening from its Quebec City base. Normally the ship would be well on its way to the high arctic for scientific work. Instead this year, as a way of protecting the north from the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship, and its scientists, will stay south of 60 and carry out research in the Labrador Sea.

CCGS Amundsen (left) with CCGS Sir William Alexander and CCGC G.Peddle, S.C. at the Bedford Institute.

The new mission will see the ship return to Quebec City October 24. It was to have conducted a 114 day trip to the Beaufort Sea. Instead it seems it may work out of Halifax or possibly some other Atlantic port.

I hope that the ship is self-isolating for fourteen days, as all visitors from Quebec are required to do on arrival in Nova Scotia, particularly from Quebec where COVID seems to be much more active.

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Arctic Research

As the year progresses, and the north becomes accessible once again, research activity is gearing up. Today's arrival of CCGS Amundsen is en route to the north once again.

Thanks to a gypsum train blocking the road, my plan to photo the ship as it sailed up the Narrows was foiled and I had to settle for this view as the ship made for its berth at BIO.

Built as a Pierre Radisson class icebreaker in 1979, the former Sir John Franklin (ex Franklin 1979-1980) had been declared surplus in 1996 and actually decommissioned in 2000. Thanks to NGOs that found outside funding, the conversion of the former hold for extra accommodation and other work, such as installation of a moon pool, was carried out by Verreault at Mechins in 2003.

The scarcity of other marine resources in the Arctic has meant that its research work has been interrupted by emergency work. Last year's grounding of the Akademik Ioffe for example took the ship away from its main mission.

The ship tied up at BIO this morning to load equipment for its 2019 season. Its trip from Quebec City was not without incident however. It experienced a propulsion failure May 31 off Cacouna, QC, but the crew managed to effect repairs while the ship drifted.

This class of vessel - among those to be replaced by new ships as part of the fleet renewal recently announced - have had a history of engine issues with their Alco main engines. Equipped with six of the engines, working through electric drives, the ship generates 17,700 shp for its two props.

Amundsen is believed to have accompanied another vessel for at least part of the trip. The 66 ft William Kennedy is the only research vessel dedicated to Hudson Bay. Owned by the non-profit Arctic Research Foundation and operated with the University of Manitoba and the Churchill Marine Observatory, the boat has a surprisingly large capacity. It can house up to 14 researchers in addition to its crew.

Built in 2002 as a crab fishing vessel White Diamond  it was converted to research work in time for the 2018 season when it sailed out of Summerside, PE for Hudson Bay. Now tied up at The Cove, it is also being readied for summer work.

Built of Kevlar reinforced fiberglass over a wood hull, it has extra reinforcing for work in ice. Its 12 foot draft allows it to work in shallow water. The bay's extreme tides make that a desirable attribute.

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More icebreaker woes

It's been a difficult winter for the Canadian Coast Guard's icebreaker fleet. Various mechanical issues have kept some of the ships out of service for days at a time. This has been particularly awkward as it has been a winter for heavy ice on the upper reaches of the St.Lawrence.
In mid-January CCGS Terry Fox was sidelined, just when one of the Quebec ferries was beset by ice. This week it is CCGS Amundsen with problems. On February 10 it had a crankcase explosion off Gros Cap-à-l.Aigle (near St-Siméon) a few miles from my summer roost. It was still able to operate with five of its six engines, but has now tied up at Gros Cacouna.

 CCGS Amundsen at the Quebec City Coast Guard agency, below the Citadel ramparts.

Of course this prompted calls for an immediate solution to a problem that has been brewing for years. As Canada's icebreaker fleet continues to age with no action on replacements (but many costly refits and life extensions).  The government has been fixated on replacing other ships for the navy and seemingly has no time to deal with icebreakers.

Offers of foreign ships, which would also require costly upgrades, are still being considered, but they would not be available this year in any event.  So far shipping has not been delayed for extended periods, but patience is wearing thin in some circles.

Amundsen has been in Halifax many times over the years for annual refits (when Halifax Shipyard was still in the ship repair business). It was built in 1978-79 by Burrard Dry Dock Co Ltd in North Vancouver as Franklin. Renamed Sir John Franklin in 1981 it was based in St. John's, NL until laid up in 1995. It was re-activated and then transferred to Quebec for the winter of 1997-98, then placed in reserve in 2000..
In 2002-2003 it was converted to an arctic research vessel, but to help out with icebreaking in the winter and renamed Amundsen.

In 2007-2008 it was intentionally "frozen in" in the Beaufort Sea to conduct research.
In 2011 it was removed from service while four of its six main engines were replaced and did not return to service until 2013. Several times over the past few years its research programs have been curtailed or  scrubbed completely due to various ice conditions in the Strait of Belle Isle and Hudson Bay, where its services as an icebreaker were needed.

According to the CCG"s maintenance calender Amundsen was to have a lengthy drydocking and refit just last summer. However with ships of this vintage more such problems can be expected. Sister ship Des Groseilliers, Pierre Radisson and Henry Larsen have also had their own mechanical issues and have undergone extensive refits in recent years or have ones planned in the next year or two.

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